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Undeniably one of the most exciting moments of your bridal portrait experience (aside from seeing the finished product for the first time, of course!) is the creative concept planning before the big shoot.

Choosing a theme for your bridal portrait can be both a thrilling and a daunting task. After all, the possibilities are endless...

We’ve seen beachy, woodsy, fantastical and decadent stories unfold in the sessions. It’s always a special experience to witness! After seeing many couples and brides select themes that spoke to their personalities and interests throughout the years, we’ve become expert consultants for this important part of the process.

We’ve put together some first-hand tips to help you choose your perfect bridal theme, from brainstorming to finalizing.

Make a (big) list of things you love.

If you’re planning a wedding (or just dealing with your hectic daily life), it isn’t always easy to brainstorm creative ideas. We get know how you feel. That’s why we suggest our clients make a huge list of things they love and then use it as a springboard for inspiration.

When you come back to this later with fresh eyes, we guarantee you’ll spot a few things to circle and explore as themes for your shoot. This exercise is a great place to start.

Talk to someone who loves you.

Sometimes your family and friends will have amazing suggestions for portrait themes, simply because they’ve watched you grow as an individual (and as a couple with your partner) and have picked up on things you haven’t.

Perhaps a relative will reveal a story in their marriage similar to one in yours, or a sibling will remind you that you always loved reading a certain book as a child. Not only are these moments wonderful to share with your loved ones, but they can sprout into meaningful theme ideas for your shoot.

Channel your inner artist.

This is your chance to be creative, so don’t hold back! Are you craving a portrait with dramatic contrasts? Mysterious, smoky eye makeup? Vibrant, cascading fabrics? Soft romantic floral arrangements? A theatrical backdrop? A certain kind of mood lighting?

Free your mind and imagine what it would be like to step into the most beautiful painting you’ve ever seen. Browse art history books or visit a modern gallery. Watch films from every corner of the globe, or go and see a live performance by a local musician for inspiration.

There are endless mediums through which thematic inspiration can arrive (and stick).

Dig deep.

When you’re picking your theme, use caution when latching onto “novel” ideas. If you choose a theme based on a passing trend you’re amuse by right now, you may regret it later when you’re looking back on the experience. If you spend some time choosing a meaningful theme, the entire process will be pure magic as you watch it unfold.

Don’t be afraid to draw from your past, your aspirations for the future, or anything else that resonates with you. It doesn’t have to be “deep” or rooted in your personal history, but your portrait session is an experience you’ll remember forever, so make sure you adore your concept!

However, that said...

...have fun with it!

With the advice above in mind, you should also decide whether the theme is something you want to have profound meaning, or whether you’d prefer something fun and playful that reflects aspects of your personality or relationship.

Did you meet your partner in a curious way? Do you really, really love the color purple enough to color the entire set one hue? Have you always imagined yourselves as royalty? In this shoot, you make the rules! Our goal is to represent your story in a way that truly inspires you.

Finally, be original.

It’s okay to get inspired, but don’t copy someone else—that’s no fun for anyone. The best portraits are authentic reflections of the person or people in them, even if you have a Pinterest board full of images you want to recreate. We’re here to make something magical and original that you will love forever.

You’ve no doubt browsed wedding magazines and blogs a bit starry-eyed by the fantasy, the gorgeous brides and faerie tale dresses. That’s one of the most fun parts about planning your wedding, after all!

At Photasia we take pride in being able to create our own beautiful images authentically, utilizing artistic planning, creative set design, expert wardrobe and makeup and more. Your unique style and personality is exemplified in each portrait session, and you can rest assured the results will have you every bit as starry eyed! (For more about our process, click here.)

There’s something we need to address, though, brides-to-be!

Perhaps because of the Photoshop-happy beauty and fashion industry, it’s not uncommon for brides to request extreme retouching to create what they believe will be their ideal portrait.

Everyone wants to look their best in their bridal portrait, and sometimes our “ideal selves” don’t line up with what we see in the mirror. Your portrait, however, is not a chance to morph into something completely different. It’s a chance to celebrate who you already are.

When we’re editing the photos from your shoot, you can expect things like optimized lighting and colouring to set the mood according to your theme, removal of minor flaws like flyways in your hair, and other subtle adjustments to arrive at a beautifully composed portrait.

There are a few things we won’t do to your portraits in post-production mode, though, and we wanted to clarify those.

Photoshop misconception #1 – No, I cannot make you 50 pounds lighter.

Slimming down is one of the most common requests we get from brides, but we’re not in the business of warping bodies the way eCommerce shops are known to.

While minor retouching to the body can be expected to smooth out the image, we won’t do dramatic weight adjustment with our digital paint brush. Instead, we work hard to style each bride with a wardrobe that flatters and fits her to perfection, accentuating favorite features and downplaying anything she might not want to show off.

We spend ample time on this process to ensure each of our clients feels like a superstar during their shoot and feels amazing when they see the finished portraits.

Photoshop misconception #2 – No, I cannot give you a nose job.

Similar to the request above and perhaps for the same reasons, some brides try to look like someone else entirely to fulfill a fantasy during their bridal portraits. And, for the same reasons above, we won’t drastically modify your beautiful face!

You’ll be thrilled with the work our expert hair and makeup teams do to highlight your favorite features and downplay others. You’ll receive individual attention from our team when selecting your beauty look, just like your wardrobe, and we promise you’ll love the way you look in every shot.

Photoshop misconception #3 – No, I cannot recreate the exact image you found on Pinterest.

We love Pinterest just as much as you do. It’s a seemingly endless pool of inspiration and ideas. However, one thing we don’t go to Pinterest for is anything to recreate verbatim. When you’re looking at bridal portraits and getting ideas for your shoot, know that while we love for you to gather ideas, we won’t recreate work that’s already been done, whether during the shoot or with photo shop afterward.

Our entire team will work with you to create something spectacular and unique, just like you and your personal story.

You might classify this under tough love, but it’s all in the name of creating clarity around what we do, so that you have the best experience possible. You’re going to look stunning in your portrait, because you already are. You can trust our team of experts to deliver photos you will cherish forever.

Learn more about what it’s like to work with Photasia on our Process page. Ready to book a session?

Want to look amazing In photos, especially during your bridal portrait session? Today on the blog we’re sharing poses to avoid when you’re in front of the camera! (And we dare you not to laugh) - Look Amazing in Photos! Poses to Avoid During Your Bridal Portrait Session

We had so much fun sharing our behind the scenes videohere on the blog (be sure to click that link if you missed it) that today we’re diving even deeper into the inner workings of a Photasia bridal portrait session.

We believe that, once you realize how fun and exciting it is, you’ll be planning a bridal portrait, anniversary portraits, and more!

What is a Bridal Portrait Session Really Like?

The first thing that happens once you book a consultation is a conversation with Carla Silva herself. She will walk you through the general framework of the experience and gauge your needs based on the kind of shoot you’re interested in.

At that point, you’ll also be offered pricing and more details about the options available to you.

Once you decide to book, it’s time to meet. This is where it gets really fun, and the creative discussion begins.Carla will talk you through some creative concepts and you’ll be able to share your own ideas for themes that reflect your personality.The point of the whole shoot is to capture your essence and your story, so this is your chance to step into the character you’ve always felt destined to be! You can also decide your theme based on a favorite era in fashion, a beloved film or book, or an interest you’ve always had as a couple. It’s all about you.The wardrobe, makeup and hair are determined based on your input and ideas, as well as the expertise of Carla and her team.

Location, location, location!

Carla then scouts the location for your shoot—and if you’ve always dreamed about doing your shoot in a certain location, she’ll try to make that happen.

A cozy campground? An ornate drawing room? A dreamy beach? Wherever you envision yourself and your fiancé in your portrait, Carla will ensure your session takes place in the best possible location for your theme.

Once the location has been chosen, Carla will put together a mood board, compiling all of the elements of your theme.

You’ll review it together, and once you approve, it’ll be time to set a date for the session. This important step ensures your dream photo shoot becomes a reality.

Before... or after the wedding?

Some couples decide to have their session before the wedding so they can give portraits as gifts and even display one during their reception.

Other times, the bride and groom want to make the magic of their wedding day linger a little longer and they opt for a session after the chaos of their special day has settled.

The only right time to schedule your portrait session is the time you decide is most meaningful to you.

An incredible, inspiring and FUN shoot!

Ah, at last we get to the most fun part... the portrait session!

Carla and her team will arrive the morning of your shoot to prepare everything for your arrival. You’ll have a call time and specific instructions for the day of, depending on the needs of your location and theme.

You’ll get professional hair and makeup done by skilled artists and slip into your wedding dress (or any wardrobe options you’ve picked out).

The team will help you ease into a series of natural-feeling poses and moments that tell your story and capture your personalities.

With their guidance, you’ll never feel forced or unnatural. Before you know it, you’ll be “posing” almost subconsciously as Carla photographs you!

It will truly be a day to remember.

Your portraits: to have and to hold (and to share!)

Rivaling the actual shoot in terms of fun and excitement, the day your portraits arrive will be one you never forget.

A special moment in your life will be capture for all time in stunning portraits that you can access through a private digital gallery.

Of course, you’ll also have the option of getting your images printed or framed.

We can’t think of a better “thank you” gift to send to close friends and family for celebrating your wedding with you!

You can learn more about how our bridal portrait sessions work by visiting our process pageor going ahead and getting in touchto book a free consultation.

I’ve been a photographer for many years now, and during those years I’ve explored a multitude of photography genres (learn more about my personal journey as an artist here). By far, my favorite genre is fashion photography.

I love the ability to take something ordinary and create masterful artwork. I love that an entire story can unfold in one image. And, of course, I love photos with style.

The fusion of fashion & portraiture...

For me, creating images that are rich and bold in subject matter is a priority, so when I decided to take on weddings, I was determined to infuse my fashion background into it.

I want couples to have images that are more than just beautifully staged snapshots. I want them to have a relic that tells their story visually, from their unique love to their interests and aspirations.

So, how does that happen?

For all of the reasons above, I take the time to connect with couples and find out what they’re hoping to get out of the images. In that way, the portrait sessions are always unique. The end goal is specific to the unique personalities in the photos.

But what is a bridal portrait session really like?

One of our goals for this blog is to demystify the process of a Photasia bridal portrait session—because we know you’ll want to book one once you see fun and special the experience really is.

We can wax poetic all day about how unique and beautiful these shoots are, but we’d prefer to show you.

Today you have the chance to go behind the scenes at one of our recent shoots. Check out the video below.